How to Grow Korean Cabbage

Kimchi is a staple in the Korean diet.

Korean small cabbage, also known as "Green Seoul," is a variety of loose-leaf Chinese cabbage. It is used throughout Korea in making kimchi, a fermented cabbage dish. Kimchi is made of cabbage, salt, green onions, radishes, red pepper, garlic and ginger. Cabbage and kimchi are eaten at every meal, usually with rice. Cabbage is a cool-season vegetable, grown in full sun or partial shade, depending on the temperature. Does this Spark an idea?

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Shovel
Compost
Rake
Mulch
Soaker hose
Scissors

Instructions

- 1
  
  Prepare the garden four to six weeks before the last frost. Select a site in full-sun in cool climates or partially shaded in hot climates. Remove all grass in the garden plot, using a shovel.
- 2
  
  Add 4 inches of compost and dig in, mixing with the garden soil. Rake smooth, then pull the soil up into mounded rows, spacing them 18 inches apart. Sprinkle with water to moisten the soil.
- 3
  
  Draw a 1/2-inch-deep groove in the top of the rows with a stick. Plant the "Green Seoul" seeds 4 inches apart, covering with soil.
- 4
  
  Add 4 inches of mulch between the rows, covering the sides but not the tops of the mounded soil.
- 5
  
  Wind the soaker hose between the rows. Attach to a faucet. Water the cabbage seeds daily if necessary, keeping the soil moist until the seeds sprout and the seedlings are well established.
- 6
  
  Thin the seedlings to 12 inches apart, snipping the seedlings at soil level with scissors. Use the cuttings in salads or soups.
- 7
  
  Water in the morning and only when the soil is dry to the touch. Fertilize with ammonium nitrate one month after planting according to the manufacturer's directions. If growing organically, add compost instead of commercial fertilizers.
- 8
  
  Monitor the cabbage plants for pests such as aphids and cabbage worms. Aphids are dislodged by a strong stream of water. Pick cabbage worms by hand.
- 9
  
  Harvest when the cabbage heads are firm and before forming seed stalks, 50 to 70 days after planting.

Tips & Warnings

Use shade cloth to protect the cabbage from the sun when temperatures rise above 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sow a second crop in mid-August.
Cabbage grows well in large flower pots; move into the shade on hot days.
Wear gloves and safety glasses when digging in the garden.
The cabbage plants will go to seed in hot weather. Harvest quickly.